Evil Twin Imperial Biscotti Break | Evil Twin Brewing
Brewed by:
Evil Twin Brewing
New York, United States | website
Style: American Double / Imperial Stout
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 11.50%
Availability: Rotating
Notes / Commercial Description:
The Roman Empire had a certain "je ne sais quoi" - festive food culture, extravagant architecture, and spectacular live entertainment. Some might argue the Emperors were brutal, mad, and hungry for power, and the people vain when taking baths and working out all day. Listen - that's still all part of the secret Imperial ingredient - keep it cool, clean, confident, arrogant, and flamboyant. Forza Imperiale.
Added by BlackBelt5112203 on 04-12-2012
Reviews: 547 | Ratings: 3,989
4.24/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Reviewing for the record. The famous Evil Twin stout, pours black but a little thin around the edges. Still no head to speak of (a careful pour, to be sure). Aroma is of fruitcake, coffee, sour cherries, wet peanuts.
Taste is right up Russian Imperial alley, with malts, roast, chocolate as sweet as cocoa, cold coffee, and also nuttiness. Bready yeast later in the sip. Sticky and smooth, a bit syrupy in the sugar department. No hops or bitterness. Aftertaste of cheap peanut butter. A rum booziness rounds it out.
This is chocolate-covered biscotti drowned in rum. Exactly as described and a very dessert-y stout. While boozy in taste, there's no alcohol heat. The 16oz tall-cans at 12oz prices can't be beat either.
★ 722 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Reviewing for the record. The famous Evil Twin stout, pours black but a little thin around the edges. Still no head to speak of (a careful pour, to be sure). Aroma is of fruitcake, coffee, sour cherries, wet peanuts.
Taste is right up Russian Imperial alley, with malts, roast, chocolate as sweet as cocoa, cold coffee, and also nuttiness. Bready yeast later in the sip. Sticky and smooth, a bit syrupy in the sugar department. No hops or bitterness. Aftertaste of cheap peanut butter. A rum booziness rounds it out.
This is chocolate-covered biscotti drowned in rum. Exactly as described and a very dessert-y stout. While boozy in taste, there's no alcohol heat. The 16oz tall-cans at 12oz prices can't be beat either.
★ 722 characters
4.44/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Sleek, viscous dark brown pour form a 16 oz. can into a 22 oz. glass. Like the bigger glass as it perfectly accommodates the head on this thing, which is a bit more than I'd think for something so thick and sweet. And yes, it is quite sweet. Not a big fan of coffee beers, but I love that this comes off more as a chocolate stout with a subtle amount of coffee to anchor the sweetness. You really can't taste that it's 11.5 ABV on the palate, which is maybe the craziest thing about this beer (that and the fact that Evil Twin is selling 16 oz. cans of it at the ABV level!). For a dessert-ish beer that goes down incredibly smooth and has enough complexity (despite its sweetness), I love this one if only for the fact that I can drink two of em at a BBQ, enjoy every sip, and only look like a guy who's had two beers.
★ 819 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Sleek, viscous dark brown pour form a 16 oz. can into a 22 oz. glass. Like the bigger glass as it perfectly accommodates the head on this thing, which is a bit more than I'd think for something so thick and sweet. And yes, it is quite sweet. Not a big fan of coffee beers, but I love that this comes off more as a chocolate stout with a subtle amount of coffee to anchor the sweetness. You really can't taste that it's 11.5 ABV on the palate, which is maybe the craziest thing about this beer (that and the fact that Evil Twin is selling 16 oz. cans of it at the ABV level!). For a dessert-ish beer that goes down incredibly smooth and has enough complexity (despite its sweetness), I love this one if only for the fact that I can drink two of em at a BBQ, enjoy every sip, and only look like a guy who's had two beers.
★ 819 characters
3.63/5 rDev -16.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a 16 oz. can. Has a black color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is of black coffee. Taste is strong coffee, sugars, some vanilla, alcohol is present. Feels full bodied in the mouth and overall is an enjoyable beer, but didn't meet up to the hype.
★ 254 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a 16 oz. can. Has a black color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is of black coffee. Taste is strong coffee, sugars, some vanilla, alcohol is present. Feels full bodied in the mouth and overall is an enjoyable beer, but didn't meet up to the hype.
★ 254 characters
4.5/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
This beer is nuts. Super sweet on the nose. Really does smell a bit like anise flavored desserts. Essentially a chocolate biscotti with coffee in beer form. Cloyingly sweet but pretty damn good. One of these is enough but it's delicious.
★ 237 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
This beer is nuts. Super sweet on the nose. Really does smell a bit like anise flavored desserts. Essentially a chocolate biscotti with coffee in beer form. Cloyingly sweet but pretty damn good. One of these is enough but it's delicious.
★ 237 characters
4.16/5 rDev -3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
From a sixteen ounce can, this brew is absolutely black....obsidian. The head is tan, and the aroma is boozy, roasted, and malty. Warming, almost hot. Sweet and bitter, with roasted grain and dark fruit. The finish is longlived and the. Body is thick. Nice.
★ 262 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
From a sixteen ounce can, this brew is absolutely black....obsidian. The head is tan, and the aroma is boozy, roasted, and malty. Warming, almost hot. Sweet and bitter, with roasted grain and dark fruit. The finish is longlived and the. Body is thick. Nice.
★ 262 characters
4.23/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
From can at home. Very active pour. had to intervene twice to avoid overflow. Settled to a very dark body with a deepish tan head of small bubbles with light lacing as it settled. Aroma was elusive as it was very chilled. Nice taste but no particular taste pervades.
As it warms the vanilla & almond wake up & the texture tightens & it gets real. The 11.5% never tells...at least in the taste.
All in all this is tremendous bargain, unless the local take-away had the 12oz price on the 16oz can. Worth it either way.
★ 520 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
From can at home. Very active pour. had to intervene twice to avoid overflow. Settled to a very dark body with a deepish tan head of small bubbles with light lacing as it settled. Aroma was elusive as it was very chilled. Nice taste but no particular taste pervades.
As it warms the vanilla & almond wake up & the texture tightens & it gets real. The 11.5% never tells...at least in the taste.
All in all this is tremendous bargain, unless the local take-away had the 12oz price on the 16oz can. Worth it either way.
★ 520 characters
3.51/5 rDev -18.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Can to snifter. Look is opaque black with brown tinges at the edges. Smell is almond and vanilla. Taste is sharp boozy esters up front, and it kinda overpowers the rest of the palate. I do get more of the almond and vanilla late, and maybe the biscuit element, although I might be forcing it from the game. For a stout, I don't get a ton or roasty malts. Feel is also thin for a stout. But again the booze is really strong in this one. I like my big beers, but this one drinks a bit hot for me. Carb is solid though. Overall I had high expectations but was a bit underwhelmed.
★ 576 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Can to snifter. Look is opaque black with brown tinges at the edges. Smell is almond and vanilla. Taste is sharp boozy esters up front, and it kinda overpowers the rest of the palate. I do get more of the almond and vanilla late, and maybe the biscuit element, although I might be forcing it from the game. For a stout, I don't get a ton or roasty malts. Feel is also thin for a stout. But again the booze is really strong in this one. I like my big beers, but this one drinks a bit hot for me. Carb is solid though. Overall I had high expectations but was a bit underwhelmed.
★ 576 characters
4/5 rDev -7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Can from Tin Bucket.
Black with a thin, dark brown head that falls off to a ring, this looks solid. The nose is a hedonic blend of coffee, almond, bitter dark chocolate and heavily roasted grain. Dark caramel, burnt sugar, bitter coffee and a nice, nutty almond extract, mildly kirsch-like, is present. A pronounced, moderately sweet, mildly cherry-like vanilla character is present as well. The palate opens roasty and bitter, with the sweetness of Vietnamese coffee pairing well with the mildly fruity, mildly bitter almond and vanilla extracts. The almond adds a real fruity sweetness without the sugary sweetness that one typically finds in sweeter beers. Grainy and mildly bitter on the finish dominated by almond, coffee and brown sugar, this beer is medium-full in body and moderately carbonated. Hop bitterness is low. Pretty solid stuff, the coffee flavor isn't as nuanced as it could/should be, and the vanilla is a little overbearing at times.
★ 956 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Can from Tin Bucket.
Black with a thin, dark brown head that falls off to a ring, this looks solid. The nose is a hedonic blend of coffee, almond, bitter dark chocolate and heavily roasted grain. Dark caramel, burnt sugar, bitter coffee and a nice, nutty almond extract, mildly kirsch-like, is present. A pronounced, moderately sweet, mildly cherry-like vanilla character is present as well. The palate opens roasty and bitter, with the sweetness of Vietnamese coffee pairing well with the mildly fruity, mildly bitter almond and vanilla extracts. The almond adds a real fruity sweetness without the sugary sweetness that one typically finds in sweeter beers. Grainy and mildly bitter on the finish dominated by almond, coffee and brown sugar, this beer is medium-full in body and moderately carbonated. Hop bitterness is low. Pretty solid stuff, the coffee flavor isn't as nuanced as it could/should be, and the vanilla is a little overbearing at times.
★ 956 characters
4.57/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
a: dark matte black - like motor oil, yet less slick looking. real nice dark tan head that pours around 1.5 finger but settles to a thin film on top pretty quickly
s: rich roasted malts, caramel, brown sugar, milk chocolate, dark chocolate powder, oak, a hint of cola, and a nice nutty aroma at the end. the smells here come rapid fire, but they work well and the provide a luxuriously smooth aroma
t: WOW. this is an intensely complex beer. roasted malts, big oak, and cherry you taste as soon as it hits your tongue. big chocolate and cola follow that. coffee is in here as well, but you only taste it briefly as the flavors transition to a vanilla sweetness. Behind that just the faintest bitterness from the coffee. it finishes with a touch of brown sugar & molasses sweetness and a nice bold leather-like flavor
m: mouthfeel is definitely full, with a large amount of carbonation. if i have any knock against this, i think it could actually use a tad less carbonation
o: smooth and delicious. this is a fantastic sipping beer. its complex, yet not overwhelming. take your time and enjoy this one.
★ 1,116 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
a: dark matte black - like motor oil, yet less slick looking. real nice dark tan head that pours around 1.5 finger but settles to a thin film on top pretty quickly
s: rich roasted malts, caramel, brown sugar, milk chocolate, dark chocolate powder, oak, a hint of cola, and a nice nutty aroma at the end. the smells here come rapid fire, but they work well and the provide a luxuriously smooth aroma
t: WOW. this is an intensely complex beer. roasted malts, big oak, and cherry you taste as soon as it hits your tongue. big chocolate and cola follow that. coffee is in here as well, but you only taste it briefly as the flavors transition to a vanilla sweetness. Behind that just the faintest bitterness from the coffee. it finishes with a touch of brown sugar & molasses sweetness and a nice bold leather-like flavor
m: mouthfeel is definitely full, with a large amount of carbonation. if i have any knock against this, i think it could actually use a tad less carbonation
o: smooth and delicious. this is a fantastic sipping beer. its complex, yet not overwhelming. take your time and enjoy this one.
★ 1,116 characters
4.64/5 rDev +7.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
16oz can poured into a snifter..
The beer looks black as night. The combination of almond and vanilla added to the coffee and base of this beer gives a nice chocolate cherry cordial smell. Very pleasant.. The taste is what gets you. When cold, you get the almond/vanilla mixing with the coffee and malts to give a nice, sweeter finish. As it warms, you get more coffee..and mixed with the vanilla and almond, a nice Biscotti like flavor..
This beer is rich and full of wonderful flavor. A nice end of the evening beer. Excellent!
★ 531 characters
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
16oz can poured into a snifter..
The beer looks black as night. The combination of almond and vanilla added to the coffee and base of this beer gives a nice chocolate cherry cordial smell. Very pleasant.. The taste is what gets you. When cold, you get the almond/vanilla mixing with the coffee and malts to give a nice, sweeter finish. As it warms, you get more coffee..and mixed with the vanilla and almond, a nice Biscotti like flavor..
This beer is rich and full of wonderful flavor. A nice end of the evening beer. Excellent!
★ 531 characters
4.56/5 rDev +5.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 5
A: Dark black in color with a very large tan head with multiple frog eyes.
S: Dark brown sugar up front with a nice mellow espresso note fading out into dark chocolate, vanilla, and more coffee.
T: Just damn delicious. Smooth, with notes of caramel, brown sugar, and molasses up front followed by vanilla, bread, and a lingering coffee.
M: Medium to heavy with moderate low carbonation, and a nice creamy mouthfeel.
O: Just damn near everything I want in an impy stout with coffee.
★ 490 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 5
A: Dark black in color with a very large tan head with multiple frog eyes.
S: Dark brown sugar up front with a nice mellow espresso note fading out into dark chocolate, vanilla, and more coffee.
T: Just damn delicious. Smooth, with notes of caramel, brown sugar, and molasses up front followed by vanilla, bread, and a lingering coffee.
M: Medium to heavy with moderate low carbonation, and a nice creamy mouthfeel.
O: Just damn near everything I want in an impy stout with coffee.
★ 490 characters
4.08/5 rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25
This beer is all about the aftertaste. The alcohol hides the subtle "biscotti", but if you are patient it sneaks up on you. I tried a few peanut m&m's before my last few sips and it suddenly tasted exactly like an imperial biscotti stout. I recommend when you are seeking beer + dessert. Great job Evil Twin!
★ 308 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25
This beer is all about the aftertaste. The alcohol hides the subtle "biscotti", but if you are patient it sneaks up on you. I tried a few peanut m&m's before my last few sips and it suddenly tasted exactly like an imperial biscotti stout. I recommend when you are seeking beer + dessert. Great job Evil Twin!
★ 308 characters
4.33/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Look is a nearly black stout the way it should be.
Smell is surprisingly light. Hints of chocolate.
Taste is subtle. Pleasant. Hints of vanialla, almond, and chocolate.
★ 172 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Look is a nearly black stout the way it should be.
Smell is surprisingly light. Hints of chocolate.
Taste is subtle. Pleasant. Hints of vanialla, almond, and chocolate.
★ 172 characters
4.28/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Tan head foam disappears.
Malt and coffee.
Cookie, as the name implies, and a bit of cola and molasses. I wouldn't pick out vanilla or coffee, necessarily, but that's because the fine balance creates something else. Nothing harsh or intense, still plenty of character to cover the alcohol.
Light bite (rhymes) and could be a porter, really.
★ 344 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Tan head foam disappears.
Malt and coffee.
Cookie, as the name implies, and a bit of cola and molasses. I wouldn't pick out vanilla or coffee, necessarily, but that's because the fine balance creates something else. Nothing harsh or intense, still plenty of character to cover the alcohol.
Light bite (rhymes) and could be a porter, really.
★ 344 characters
4.22/5 rDev -2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
what a pour on this beauty coming out of the can. full finger head you could float a coin on. nice black look. nose is some roasty malts with strong coffee and alcohol. mouthfeel to me is a little light on the front but changes into a more creamy feel by the end. flavor follows the nose nicely with up front roasty character followed by gentle vanilla and coffee rounding out the end palate. alcohol is present after the sip. this is pretty good and as the beer warms the almond flavor comes through a little more. thicker body and more coffee would make this better at least to me. well done but would prefer victory at sea or doub shot. little pricey as well.
★ 676 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
what a pour on this beauty coming out of the can. full finger head you could float a coin on. nice black look. nose is some roasty malts with strong coffee and alcohol. mouthfeel to me is a little light on the front but changes into a more creamy feel by the end. flavor follows the nose nicely with up front roasty character followed by gentle vanilla and coffee rounding out the end palate. alcohol is present after the sip. this is pretty good and as the beer warms the almond flavor comes through a little more. thicker body and more coffee would make this better at least to me. well done but would prefer victory at sea or doub shot. little pricey as well.
★ 676 characters
3.98/5 rDev -8.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Black-brown color, light brown head, mixture of fine & coarse lace, good persistence.
Smell is mild, malty, sweet.
Flavor of sweet black licorice, malty molasses.
Mouthfeel is rich, as a double should be.
Finish of licorice. Nice.
Whole doesn't come together quite as nicely as the parts. Like, not love here.
★ 309 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Black-brown color, light brown head, mixture of fine & coarse lace, good persistence.
Smell is mild, malty, sweet.
Flavor of sweet black licorice, malty molasses.
Mouthfeel is rich, as a double should be.
Finish of licorice. Nice.
Whole doesn't come together quite as nicely as the parts. Like, not love here.
★ 309 characters
4.02/5 rDev -7.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A - Dark body, completely opaque, tan head, serious lacing. Looks great.
S - Lots and lots of roasted malt notes. Sweet almond flavoring, not my favorite, but expected given the theme. Rich. Lots of alcohol warmth.
T - Follows the nose. Lots of rich coffee and chocolate flavors. Rich. Warm. The flavoring is well balanced, and nothing punishes. Close is warm, soaked cookie loveliness.
M - Good chewiness. Full. Sticky. But with enough warmth in the close to keep this from becoming cloying.
O - Well crafted, tasty. The only challenge for me is I hate almond flavoring, and this focuses on this aspect of biscotti, which is not my favorite. Fortunately, this is balanced, and all works together. Very, very good.
★ 733 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A - Dark body, completely opaque, tan head, serious lacing. Looks great.
S - Lots and lots of roasted malt notes. Sweet almond flavoring, not my favorite, but expected given the theme. Rich. Lots of alcohol warmth.
T - Follows the nose. Lots of rich coffee and chocolate flavors. Rich. Warm. The flavoring is well balanced, and nothing punishes. Close is warm, soaked cookie loveliness.
M - Good chewiness. Full. Sticky. But with enough warmth in the close to keep this from becoming cloying.
O - Well crafted, tasty. The only challenge for me is I hate almond flavoring, and this focuses on this aspect of biscotti, which is not my favorite. Fortunately, this is balanced, and all works together. Very, very good.
★ 733 characters
4.81/5 rDev +11.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Look: Massive 3 finger brown head, solid black body.
Smell : Dark chocolate and coffee mainly, some cookie dough, and a hint of vanilla.
Taste : Dark chocolate, vanilla, mild coffee, creme, and some cookie dough.
Feel : Full body, low carbonation, mild sweetness, slight alcohol bite and warmth.
★ 298 characters
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Look: Massive 3 finger brown head, solid black body.
Smell : Dark chocolate and coffee mainly, some cookie dough, and a hint of vanilla.
Taste : Dark chocolate, vanilla, mild coffee, creme, and some cookie dough.
Feel : Full body, low carbonation, mild sweetness, slight alcohol bite and warmth.
★ 298 characters
3.52/5 rDev -18.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
L: This is a gorgeous deep brown with a white fluffy head. A little too dark to be perfect looking, but damn near close.
S: smells like a stout drenched in cloying sweetness.
T: if you like artificial flavors, this one is for you. Tastes like a melted biscotti ices -- somehow. There are some pleasant biscotti flavors in the mix (a hint of almond here, a smidge of cookie there, some vanilla extract on top) but this is mostly a cloying mess of a beer. This tastes neither like a stout nor like biscotti. Weird and not in a barnyard funk good way.
F: fine. velvety smooth, but also astringently alcoholic and thin.
O: I like biscotti and I like beer, but I don't like beer that tastes like biscotti's freakish mutated cousin-once-removed.
★ 746 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
L: This is a gorgeous deep brown with a white fluffy head. A little too dark to be perfect looking, but damn near close.
S: smells like a stout drenched in cloying sweetness.
T: if you like artificial flavors, this one is for you. Tastes like a melted biscotti ices -- somehow. There are some pleasant biscotti flavors in the mix (a hint of almond here, a smidge of cookie there, some vanilla extract on top) but this is mostly a cloying mess of a beer. This tastes neither like a stout nor like biscotti. Weird and not in a barnyard funk good way.
F: fine. velvety smooth, but also astringently alcoholic and thin.
O: I like biscotti and I like beer, but I don't like beer that tastes like biscotti's freakish mutated cousin-once-removed.
★ 746 characters
4.32/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Nice and black, a good smell of coffee and roasted malt. The taste is good, but lighter than what I expected. The beer was a little more watery than I expected and would have liked. I liked that despite the high alcohol, there was no alcohol burn.
★ 250 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Nice and black, a good smell of coffee and roasted malt. The taste is good, but lighter than what I expected. The beer was a little more watery than I expected and would have liked. I liked that despite the high alcohol, there was no alcohol burn.
★ 250 characters
4.05/5 rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
16 fl oz. can, Batch #003 printed on the bottom of the can. I am finally getting around to reviewing this now-classic beer from Evil Twin Brewing - "Imperial Stout Brewed With Coffee And With Almond And Vanilla Added".
Poured into a clear balloon snifter.
A - The pour is huge thick dense and black. Conjures just under two fingers of thick creamy mocha head that stays awhile and leaves excellent sticky spotty lacing. Looks excellent.
S - A smooth, creamy, & enticing aroma - big notes of chocolate, cream, cookie dough, cherries, with good almond cookie type presence coming through. Definitely impressive; and it definitely embodies the nose of true Italian biscottis.
T - Taste follows the nose: smooth & creamy, with big notes of chocolate, vanilla, cream, almond, fudge, coffee bean roastiness, though the coffee seems to take gay the back seat to the almond, and the vanilla doesn't particularly shine. Notes of dark fruits - cherries, berries, plums, & dates, with a slight alcoholic bite, which is expected at 11.50% abv. Minor warmth. There is a bit of unexpected tart cherry / dark fruitiness that caught me off-guard.
M - Feel is smooth & creamy. Full-bodied, with good carb. Easy-drinking stuff for the high abv.
Overall, a nice dessert beer from Evil Twin; definitely worthy of praise.
★ 1,315 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
16 fl oz. can, Batch #003 printed on the bottom of the can. I am finally getting around to reviewing this now-classic beer from Evil Twin Brewing - "Imperial Stout Brewed With Coffee And With Almond And Vanilla Added".
Poured into a clear balloon snifter.
A - The pour is huge thick dense and black. Conjures just under two fingers of thick creamy mocha head that stays awhile and leaves excellent sticky spotty lacing. Looks excellent.
S - A smooth, creamy, & enticing aroma - big notes of chocolate, cream, cookie dough, cherries, with good almond cookie type presence coming through. Definitely impressive; and it definitely embodies the nose of true Italian biscottis.
T - Taste follows the nose: smooth & creamy, with big notes of chocolate, vanilla, cream, almond, fudge, coffee bean roastiness, though the coffee seems to take gay the back seat to the almond, and the vanilla doesn't particularly shine. Notes of dark fruits - cherries, berries, plums, & dates, with a slight alcoholic bite, which is expected at 11.50% abv. Minor warmth. There is a bit of unexpected tart cherry / dark fruitiness that caught me off-guard.
M - Feel is smooth & creamy. Full-bodied, with good carb. Easy-drinking stuff for the high abv.
Overall, a nice dessert beer from Evil Twin; definitely worthy of praise.
★ 1,315 characters
4.37/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours black with a half inch tan head that left little lacing. Smells of chocolate, coff, almonds and a hint of vanilla. Tastes of coffee, coffee grinds (in a good way), dark chocolate, almonds and a sweetness that I would equate to a vanilla creamer. Medium bodied and carbonated, smooth and creamy. Excellent beer.
★ 319 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours black with a half inch tan head that left little lacing. Smells of chocolate, coff, almonds and a hint of vanilla. Tastes of coffee, coffee grinds (in a good way), dark chocolate, almonds and a sweetness that I would equate to a vanilla creamer. Medium bodied and carbonated, smooth and creamy. Excellent beer.
★ 319 characters
3.88/5 rDev -10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured into a pint glass from a 16oz can.
Appearance: Pours jet black with a nice caramel head that stays.
Smell: Beautiful aroma of chocolate and coffee. Alcohol smell noticeable as well.
Taste: Sweet. The milk sugar gives a nice smooth profile. Not much chocolate flavor compared to aroma. Coffee flavors present late in the mouthfeel.
Mouthfeel: Goes down very smooth. Nice body for such a high alcohol beer.
Overall this is one a very enjoyable stout. Really hard to believe just how smooth it is for a 11.5% beer.
★ 523 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured into a pint glass from a 16oz can.
Appearance: Pours jet black with a nice caramel head that stays.
Smell: Beautiful aroma of chocolate and coffee. Alcohol smell noticeable as well.
Taste: Sweet. The milk sugar gives a nice smooth profile. Not much chocolate flavor compared to aroma. Coffee flavors present late in the mouthfeel.
Mouthfeel: Goes down very smooth. Nice body for such a high alcohol beer.
Overall this is one a very enjoyable stout. Really hard to believe just how smooth it is for a 11.5% beer.
★ 523 characters
4.36/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Been wanting to try this for quite a while. Found a pounder can at my local House of 1,000 beers for 5 bucks! Into a pint glass.
A - Wow it poured so thick and dark its surreal! Deep black mocha head that tastes a minute to clear atop a very pitch black beer. Awesome.
S - Smell is pretty spot on some milk chocolate, toasted almond, Coffee creamer, and coffee grounds mixed pretty perfectly.
T - Dry roasted almonds mixed with some cocoa power/ milk chocolate and a touch of vanilla mixed in. Took a couple of sips for the coffee to really come through but it is there adding a roasted bean taste one usually gets in a strong cup.
M - It's crazy at 11.5% it goes down pretty smooth. Such a well crafted Imperial stout.
Overall if anything it was well worth finding it for such an affordable price and I wish people would stop rating it so low especially after trying the BBA version. I am going to pick up a few more cans next chance I get!
★ 943 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Been wanting to try this for quite a while. Found a pounder can at my local House of 1,000 beers for 5 bucks! Into a pint glass.
A - Wow it poured so thick and dark its surreal! Deep black mocha head that tastes a minute to clear atop a very pitch black beer. Awesome.
S - Smell is pretty spot on some milk chocolate, toasted almond, Coffee creamer, and coffee grounds mixed pretty perfectly.
T - Dry roasted almonds mixed with some cocoa power/ milk chocolate and a touch of vanilla mixed in. Took a couple of sips for the coffee to really come through but it is there adding a roasted bean taste one usually gets in a strong cup.
M - It's crazy at 11.5% it goes down pretty smooth. Such a well crafted Imperial stout.
Overall if anything it was well worth finding it for such an affordable price and I wish people would stop rating it so low especially after trying the BBA version. I am going to pick up a few more cans next chance I get!
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Evil Twin Imperial Biscotti Break from Evil Twin Brewing
4.33
out of 5
based on 3,989 ratings.
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Pours dark brown with a thick tan head (a hard pour) which dissipates quickly down to nothing. No lacing as I drink it. Aroma of maraschino cherries & vanilla along with some chocolate & malt. Taste is vanilla up front with some chocolate/coffee/dark malt & finishing with a sweet imperial booziness which lets you know the 11.5% ABV on the label is correct. Mouthfeel is somewhat sticky but a little more watery than I'd like. There is so much sweetness in the taste it feels like I'm drinking a strong beer soda pop. It's pretty unique & since I'm going to have just the one, I think I prefer it to standard imperial stouts but still prefer the taste of a good lower ABV sweet stout.
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